Best Beaches in St. Maarten: A Local's Guide to 12 Shores

One island, 37 beaches

St. Maarten packs 37 beaches into just 37 square miles. That means we have more beaches per square mile than almost anywhere on earth.

You could visit a different one every day for over a month and never set foot on the same sand twice.

The island is shared by two nations, and each side has its own personality. The Dutch side (Sint Maarten) is livelier, with boardwalks and beach bars. The French side (Saint-Martin) leans European, with beach clubs and quieter coves, and has some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean.

After years of driving guests to every corner of this island, we keep coming back to these 12 beaches. They are the ones we recommend to friends, family, and every visitor who asks.

Quick reference

Top Dutch side beaches

Great Bay Beach, Philipsburg

If your cruise ship just docked and you want sand between your toes without going far, Great Bay is right there.

The mile-long stretch runs along the Boardwalk, lined with restaurants and open-air bars serving rum punches that hit harder than you expect at noon. The water is calm and shallow, sheltered by the curve of the harbor, with turquoise fading to deep blue about a hundred yards out.

It suits cruise visitors short on time and shoppers who want a beach break. It is a five-minute walk from the cruise terminal, and you cannot miss it.

Local tip: Skip the restaurants nearest the terminal, which are the most crowded. Walk east past the courthouse to find local spots with better food and half the wait.

Mullet Bay Beach

Ask anyone who lives here to name the most beautiful beach on the Dutch side, and the answer is almost always Mullet Bay.

The sand is exceptionally fine, and the water shifts from pale seafoam at the shoreline to vivid cobalt further out. It is excellent for swimming and usually much calmer than the Atlantic side.

Behind the beach, the ruins of an old golf course are slowly being reclaimed by tropical vegetation, an oddly beautiful backdrop.

Families and swimmers do well here, and so does anyone who wants a great beach without crossing to the French side. It is about 25 minutes from Philipsburg, near the western tip. There is a small parking area off the main road, so arrive before 10 AM on cruise days.

Local tip: Walk to the far left end where a rocky outcrop creates a natural tide pool. It is quieter, with good snorkeling right off the rocks.

Maho Beach

You have probably seen the videos: a massive jet thundering a hundred feet over sunbathers' heads as it approaches Princess Juliana International Airport. Maho is every bit as thrilling in person.

The roar of the engines, the blast of jet wash, the shadow of the plane passing over you: it makes your heart pound every single time.

We have a full guide on Maho Beach Plane Spotting, including the best times for big planes. You can also read our detailed Maho Beach plane spotting guide.

Aviation fans and thrill-seekers will love it. It is about 25 to 35 minutes from Philipsburg, depending on traffic through Simpson Bay. The Sunset Bar sits right on the beach with a chalkboard showing the day's flight schedule.

Local tip: Wide-body jets from North America and Europe typically arrive between 12:30 PM and 5:30 PM. Stay for sunset, when evening flights become silhouettes against a burnt-orange sky.

Simpson Bay Beach

This is the beach where locals go on their days off. A long, gentle curve of sand along the lagoon side, with calm water that barely has a ripple most days.

There is no Boardwalk and there are no cruise crowds, just a handful of beach bars, some watersport shacks, and wide-open space. At sunset, the lagoon lights up amber and pink while pelicans dive-bomb for their evening meal.

It is good for couples and anyone who wants a relaxed day with watersports. It is about 20 to 25 minutes from Philipsburg along Airport Road, with multiple access points and free parking.

Local tip: Rent a paddleboard and glide out toward the mangrove islands in the lagoon. You will often spot sea turtles and rays in the crystal-clear water.

Top French side beaches

Orient Bay (Baie Orientale)

The crown jewel. Two miles of blindingly white sand, water so turquoise it looks artificial, and a string of beach clubs serving grilled lobster and chilled rose.

The French call it the "Riviera of the Caribbean," and the comparison is not far off.

Beach clubs like Bikini Beach, Kakao, and Kontiki rent loungers and umbrellas, with food and drinks brought right to your chair. Water sports concessions offer jet skis, parasailing, and banana boats.

(The far southern end is famously clothing-optional.)

Beach club fans, water sports lovers, and couples will be happy here. It is about 25 to 30 minutes from Philipsburg and well signed from the main road.

Local tip: Visit on a weekday. Even on busy days, walking five minutes south along the sand puts you in open space. The beach is enormous.

Friar's Bay (Anse des Pères)

This is the beach we take friends to when they say they want "the real St. Maarten."

A small, sheltered cove backed by green hills, with calm water shallow enough to wade out fifty yards. The beach bar serves some of the best grilled fish on the island. You sit with your feet in the sand, the smell of charcoal and garlic drifting from the kitchen, water lapping a few yards away.

You plan to stay an hour and leave four hours later.

It suits couples and travelers tired of tourist crowds. To get there, turn off the main road between Marigot and Grand Case. A narrow, bumpy road winds down to the cove.

Local tip: A short trail from the right side of the bay leads over the headland to Happy Bay. It is about 10 minutes on foot and absolutely worth it.

Grand Case Beach

Grand Case village is the "Gourmet Capital of the Caribbean," its main street lined with French and Creole restaurants that would hold their own in Paris.

The beach runs alongside the village, with soft sand, clear turquoise water, and good snorkeling at either end. Spend the afternoon swimming, then walk off the beach straight into a restaurant for mahi-mahi in coconut curry or grilled crayfish.

Grand Case is also a featured stop on our Local Culinary Tasting Tour.

It is a good pick for foodies, couples, and anyone who wants beach time and a proper dinner in one trip. It is about 35 to 45 minutes from Philipsburg on the French side's north coast.

Local tip: The Tuesday evening "Harmony Nights" street market is worth planning your trip around.

Happy Bay

There is no road access. You reach it by a 10-minute trail from Friar's Bay that climbs over a rocky headland through low scrub.

When the path opens up and you see the bay for the first time, a perfect crescent of white sand between two headlands with crystal water and no sound but the waves, you understand why people make the walk.

Adventurous couples, photographers, and anyone after solitude will like it. Park at Friar's Bay and take the trail from the right side. Wear shoes with grip.

Local tip: Bring everything you need. There are no facilities, no vendors, and no music. That is the whole appeal.

Anse Marcel

Tucked into a deep bay almost completely enclosed by green hills, Anse Marcel feels like a private lagoon.

The water is flat calm on all but the stormiest days, more lake than ocean. Toddlers can splash in the shallows safely, and the gentle slope keeps things shallow far from shore.

It is the pick for families with small children and anyone who wants guaranteed calm water. Follow the signs past Grand Case, and a winding road descends into the bay.

Local tip: Paddle a kayak to the mouth of the bay for excellent snorkeling along the rocky edges.

Pinel Island

Technically an entire tiny island rather than a beach.

A five-minute boat ride from Cul-de-Sac drops you on a speck of land with two beaches, rustic beach bars, wild iguanas that wander right up to your table, and some of the best snorkeling on St. Maarten.

The windward side has a rocky shoreline that creates a natural aquarium full of parrotfish, blue tangs, and the occasional nurse shark.

Snorkelers and families will like it, and so will anyone who wants a private-island feeling. Drive to the dock at Cul-de-Sac (25 to 30 minutes from Philipsburg). Ferries shuttle every few minutes for a few euros.

Local tip: Bring your own snorkel gear, since rentals on the island are limited. The best snorkeling is around the rocks on the eastern side.

Baie Rouge

"Red Bay," named for the reddish sandstone cliffs framing the western end.

Rust-colored rock against white sand and turquoise water makes it one of the most photogenic spots on the island. It stays relatively uncrowded even on busy cruise days.

The snorkeling along the cliffs is excellent: sea fans, brain coral, and colorful reef fish in protected water.

Snorkelers, photographers, and couples who want beauty without crowds should head here. It is on the French side's southwestern coast, near the Lowlands, with a short path from the road.

Local tip: Walk to the far western end where the cliffs create a sheltered cove. It is often nearly empty and always beautiful.

Cupecoy Beach

The most dramatic beach on the island. Towering sandstone cliffs carved into arches and caves line the shore.

The beach splits into pocket coves separated by rock formations, each one feeling private and enclosed. At low tide you can walk between them. At high tide some become their own isolated worlds.

Late-afternoon light turns the cliffs gold and makes the caves glow.

Photographers, explorers, and couples looking for an unusual setting will enjoy it. It is near the Dutch-French border, and steps cut into the cliff lead down from the parking area.

Local tip: Visit in late afternoon. The golden light on those cliffs makes for photos you will not get anywhere else.

Beach day budget

A beach day in St. Maarten costs less than most people expect. Here is a realistic breakdown.

Budget tip: Skip the chair rental at Mullet Bay and Friar's Bay and just bring a towel. The sand is soft and the trees provide natural shade. Save the chair money for a beachside lobster lunch at Orient Bay.

Beach-hopping by tour

Seeing several beaches in a single day is one of the best ways to experience the island. Driving yourself means narrow roads and a fight for parking at popular spots on cruise days.

Our Beach-Hopping Tour runs five hours and covers Orient Bay, Mullet Bay, and Great Bay Beach, three beaches across both sides of the island. It is private from $310 for 2 guests (+$50 per extra guest), or $60 per person in groups of 10+, and includes transport, cold drinks, and a local guide who handles all the driving.

If you have your own wish list, a private custom tour starts at $450 and lets you design the itinerary. Want Happy Bay, Pinel Island, and Baie Rouge in one day? We will make it happen.

For a broader overview of the island beyond beaches, check out our shore excursions guide.

Tips for beach days in St. Maarten

• Water temperature runs between 78 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. Even in January, you walk right in without hesitating.

• The tropical sun is stronger than most visitors expect. Wear reef-safe SPF 50+, reapply every two hours, and consider a rash guard for snorkeling. The worst sunburns happen on cloudy days.

• US dollars are accepted almost everywhere. You may get change in local currency on the Dutch side (guilders) or the French side (euros).

• Most places take cards, but smaller beach bars on the French side may be cash-only. ATMs are available in Philipsburg, Marigot, and Grand Case.

• There is no border checkpoint between the Dutch and French sides. The island is small enough that no beach is more than 45 minutes from any other, though traffic gets heavy around Philipsburg and Simpson Bay on cruise ship days.

Frequently asked questions

Which beach is best for families with young children?

Anse Marcel and Mullet Bay. Both have calm, shallow water with gentle slopes and no strong currents. Anse Marcel is especially good, since the enclosed bay makes the water almost lake-calm.

Can I visit French side beaches if my cruise ship docks on the Dutch side?

Yes. There is no border control, so you cross freely. French side beaches are 20 to 45 minutes by car from the Philipsburg cruise port, and a guided tour is the easiest way to get there.

Are the beaches free?

Every beach on St. Maarten is public by law. There are no entrance fees. You only pay if you choose to rent beach chairs and umbrellas from a beach club ($10 to $20 typically).

What is the best time of year to visit?

Peak season runs December through April, with the driest weather and most comfortable temperatures. St. Maarten is a year-round destination, though. The water is always warm, and even in the wetter months rain comes in short afternoon bursts followed by sunshine.